Check out 4 pillars of innovation that every company needs to succeed

The subject is on the rise, but it is for a fair reason. Currently, being innovative is a constant need to remain in such a competitive market. But it is wrong who thinks that innovation is only working with new technologies and futuristic ideas. It is mainly put into practice good ideas that add value to the business in the form of product, service or improvement.

Innovation within a company happens through actions and strategies that must be permeated and disseminated by employees. That is why it is so important to add innovation to the organizational culture. It allows you to reduce costs, improve methodologies and create solutions that optimize existing techniques.

For this, some pillars are essential and guarantee success in the innovation journey. “Even a company that is not a native innovator is able to implement pillars to transform its processes, create opportunities and find solutions that enhance existing tools”, explains Andre Medina, Innovation Manager at Andrade Gutierrez.

Based on her experience in innovation, Medina selected 4 pillars for companies to start the innovation process. Check:

1 ^ Define your goal 

Talking about innovation can be very broad; therefore, it is important to define a goal. Map the challenges of your company, align innovation with strategy and, from there, seek solutions that meet your needs.

When defining the goal, attention is focused on it and ideas arise more easily. Then, the application of a strategy and the implementation of new processes will be facilitated. Gradually, it will be possible to meet other objectives and expand innovation to all areas.

2 'Invista em saber

When implementing a new culture, knowledge is essential for the proper performance of strategies and solutions.It strengthens strategies and empowers people to execute innovative methodologies.

This is possible through training and daily actions that awaken a new collective mindset. In this way, organizational innovation and collaboration between employees are encouraged to foster new ideas. 

Once established, knowledge on the subject can serve as a basis for the other steps of innovation.

3 ^ Create connections

To expand the horizons and go beyond its own market, the company needs to create connections, including with solutions that are not in its niche, but that somehow can contribute to innovate its sector. All learning can be applied, so it is worth doing benchmark, relationship meetings and participate in events on the subject.

“In Andrade Gutierrez, we implemented in 2018 Vetor AG, an open innovation program, which is already the largest in the engineering and construction sector, and since then we have made more than 1500 connections with startups. These connections allowed us to accelerate processes inside and outside the construction sites, not only related to engineering but also to HR, sustainability and” technology, says Medina.

4 'Envolve your team 

For innovation to be in the company culture, it must extend from leaders to employees. By including everyone, innovation expands, stimulating ideas in various sectors.Practically, the initiative must be integrated into the operation of the company as a whole.

“One of the strategies we implement is to include all employees present at the Pitch Day of Vetor AG, at which time the startups selected in the cycle present their solutions. Thus, everyone participates in the choice of solutions that will be implemented in the construction company and we involve everyone in the innovation process”, comments the Innovation manager.